2025 WSOP PokerNews Deepstack Challenge

The opening three days of the 2025 PokerNews Deepstack Challenge has delivered in a big way, with heaps of entries, six-figure prize pools, and breakout victories from players both known and new to the scene.

Across nine events held between May 27–29, the series has already attracted 1,879 total entries, generating a combined $432,948 in prize money, with $88,513 going to the victors.

Buy-ins ranged from $200 to $400, with each daily event offering a one-day shot at glory on the Vegas felt and a chance to qualify for the $600 PokerNews Deepstack Challenge.

So far, the biggest payout of the series went to Juan Sosa, who banked $18,101 after topping a 521-entry field in the May 29 $250 Daily Deepstack, the largest field and prize pool of the series so far. Sinéad Davenport wasn't far behind, taking home $15,067 in the same day's $400 event after a composed and clinical run through a 202-player field.

Other notable winners include Mark Selley, Jeremy Calverley, Lewis Christensen, and Koveh Waysei, all of whom walked away with five-figure or near-five-figure scores in their respective flights.

We'll be updating the leaderboard with the results from May 29 later today, but in the meantime, check out the standings here. Remember, the top ten each week get a ticket to the $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship which runs July 1-4.

But if we want to see you're in the running before the leaderboard gets up to date, you can use the points calculator to see how many points you've earned.

When Sinéad Davenport boarded a flight to Las Vegas in 2024, she had no idea she’d be the reason someone else made it there alive. Midway through the transatlantic journey, a fellow passenger collapsed and began choking.

With no working medical equipment onboard, Davenport, who had only recently left her nursing career to pursue poker full time, sprang into action and her swift response helped save a life at 35,000 feet.

Fast forward to 2025, and Davenport’s latest Vegas trip is off to a flying start of a very different kind.

On Wednesday, she topped a competitive field in the $400 Daily Deepstack, part of the 2025 PokerNews Deepstack Challenge, earning $15,067 and capturing the ninth recorded tournament win of her career. The result pushes her over $450,000 in live earnings, continuing a remarkable run that began with a breakout 2024 on the UK circuit.

The event paid 31 players and built a $70,902 prize pool. Davenport outlasted a tough final table that included Branden Shimamoto, Mika Hilaire, and Shayne Mogilski.

Davenport once again proved that she’s a force on both sides of the Atlantic, and that her 2025 grind is just heating up.

Read more about Sinéad Davenport’s incredible poker journey

Final Table Payouts

Tags: Sinéad Davenport

The Daily Deepstack action continued to draw big numbers in the 2025 PokerNews Deepstack Challenge, with May 29's $250 No-Limit Hold’em attracting 521 entries and generating a $112,015 prize pool. A total of 79 players made the money, with payouts starting at $499.

In the end, it was Juan Sosa who came out on top, earning $18,101, a career-best score for the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), surpassing his previous high by just $101.

Jerrimie Pacheco (pictured) finished runner-up for $12,562, while Japan’s Haruka Murata claimed $8,889 for third. Pasi Petteri Kakkonen also recorded his biggest live cash to date, banking $6,397 for fourth place.

Final Table Payouts

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After a field of 146 players was whittled down across several fast-paced hours of play, just nine contenders remain in the $200 Daily Deepstack, all eyeing the lion’s share of a $24,601 prize pool.

At the top of the payout ladder is a $5,643 top prize, but all nine finalists are now guaranteed at least $497. With the blinds and antes putting pressure on short stacks, expect early fireworks as players jostle for ladder spots.

Here's a look at the nine players still in contention:

• Richard Williams Jnr 🇺🇸
• Jose Garcia Gonzalez 🇲🇽
• Oscar Quezada 🇺🇸
• MortonKoopa 🇺🇸
• Lewis Christensen 🇺🇸
• Titus Balliett 🇺🇸
• Dustin Bryan 🇺🇸
• Dhananjay Bhor 🇺🇸
• Teppei Ishizaki 🇯🇵

The afternoon action at the 2025 PNDC rolled on with the $400 Daily Deepstack, drawing a 122-entry field and generating a healthy $42,822 prize pool. A total of 19 players made the money, with a min-cash worth $806.

At the end of the one-day tournament, it was Koveh Waysei who walked away with the top prize of $10,462, adding a fresh line to his growing poker résumé. With this win, Waysei now sits at $385K in recorded live tournament earnings.

The American is no stranger to the WSOP stage, he notably finished 123rd in the 2023 WSOP Main Event.

Final Table Payouts

The opening day of the 2025 PokerNews Deepstack Challenge has now wrapped up, with the third and final Daily Deepstack ending in the early hours of Wednesday. The $200 edition drew a 133-entry field and generated a $22,411 prize pool.

Standing tall at the end of it all was Jeremy Calverley, who took home $5,288 and the final WSOP Daily Deepstack winner's coin of the day. For the 44-year-old tattoo artist from Burnsville, Minnesota, this marks his 14th recorded tournament win, pushing his live earnings past the $230,000 mark.

Also making headlines at the final table was Women in Poker Hall of Famer JJ Liu, who put in an impressive performance en route to a fifth-place finish.

Final Table Payouts

Adauto Viana Junior topped a 50-entry field in May 27's $400 Daily Deepstack, earning $5,414 and his first recorded tournament victory. The Brazilian player’s win in Monday’s 4 p.m. event brings his live tournament earnings to just under $60,000, with this result marking his second-largest career cash.

The event generated a $17,550 prize pool, with the top eight players making the money and a $851 minimum payout.

Viana Junior’s win improves on his previous best finish at the WSOP, a fourth-place result in last year's $250 Seniors Deepstack (50+). He defeated Mark Lacoste (2nd – $3,369) and James Shibley (3rd – $2,232) to close out the final table.

Final Table Payouts

The first $250 Daily Deepstack of the 2025 PokerNews Deepstack Challenge lit up the tournament floor in Horseshoe, Las Vegas, on May 27, drawing 143 entries and generating a $30,745 prize pool.

After 11 hours of play, it was Mark Selley, a 35-year-old firefighter from the United Kingdom, who kept his nerve in the heat of battle and captured the title along with $7,126, which marks his biggest cash according to The Hendon Mob.

Selley, who’s more accustomed to battling blazes than final tables, earned the biggest payout of the day, with the triumph putting him in a strong early position on the PokerNews Deepstack Challenge leaderboard, where the top ten finishers by the end of the week will win seats to the $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship.

Selley wasn’t the only player to impress. Michael Moran fought valiantly heads-up before finishing second for $4,588, while Nir Azriel secured third place and a $3,065 payout. Together, the trio led the way in a well-attended opening event that set the tone for the Deepstack schedule ahead.

Final Table Payouts